3 finger Rasgueados

[Guitarlife]

I have a question on 3 finger Rasgueados. I purchased the Gerhard Graf-Martinez book and he says to apply tension to the fingers pressing against the thumb (like you would do shooting spitballs) I read that this method is not the best since tension will give injury to the tendons. Is there another safer way to do Rasgueado? I read

The simplest rasgueado is performed from the basic (normal) hand position.

1) The fingers are curled (but NOT held tightly) into the palm of the
hand.

http://www.wannalearn.com/Fine_Arts/...rasgueado.html

Is that way better or safer? or more correct?

[benplaut]

This is the best manual I've found for free. Highly specific, and the oft neglected list of "common mistakes you shouldn't make"

http://www.geocities.com/nitaro74/rass.htm

[Dave Tate]

Hi Guitarlife,

The way I see it, using your thumb (or the flesh of your palm) to prop your fingers against before releasing, like arrows from a bow, is a great way to get a strong attack.

However, it's only really useful when learning, your fingers will eventually get strong enough that you can get the same attack without using your thumb as resistance.

I don't think you'll run into any tendon problems from doing an occasional rasgueado from your thumb. Besides, even when you do use this technique, there shouldn't necessarily be much tension. Just enough to keep your fingers from springing out until you're ready.

Hope this helps a little. I'm sure others will chime in as well.

~Dave

PS - I'm redirecting this into the Flamenco room, you may get better responses there.

[Guitarlife]

Thank you guys for the time and help.

benplaut, Seems like the article tells you to use the palm's points rather than thumb. I'm still torn on which method I should use.

[jtucker]

If you're going to use anything for stability, I recommend the palm points. If the thumb is planted on the sixth string for stability, there is really no natural way for any finger other than the index to get remotely near the thumb. I find myself generally doing the palm points, especially when I'm drilling/practicing (I consider myself an early intermediate player). Sometimes the tendons on my hand do get a little sore after I've been practicing too much in one session, but it's more an issue of me not relaxing enough. I don't think the key is strength, so much as quickness and the correct angle of attack. We shouldn't be worried too much about how heavy we hit but how rhythmically precise. One teacher told me that something a couple bpm slower, but exactly in time, will sound faster than the same thing played at faster tempo but not quite precisely. Hope that helps.

Jason